The Karnataka government, led by the Congress, has announced plans to develop localities and allocate sites to retired soldiers throughout the state this year. Minister for Revenue Krishna Byre Gowda revealed this initiative during a Legislative Assembly session while addressing a query from BJP MLA B.P. Harish. Minister Gowda assured that all pending applications from retired soldiers would be reviewed this year, emphasizing the digitization of data for efficient processing.
He highlighted the government’s commitment to a structured program, with the application process now streamlined online. Minister Gowda affirmed the government’s intent to provide sites to soldiers, acknowledging the necessity of land for the program’s successful implementation. Additionally, he mentioned that the identification of land for acquisition in the next phase has already been completed, with eligibility criteria to be rigorously assessed during the allocation process.
The issue of land allocation to retired soldiers was raised by BJP MLA B.P. Harish in the Assembly, expressing concerns over the delay in processing applications. Harish lamented that despite receiving 328 applications in Davanagere district, none had been either accepted or rejected in the past three years. He criticized the Revenue Department for its lack of responsiveness to the needs of former soldiers, emphasizing the government’s obligation to provide suitable land for their welfare.
Responding to the MLA’s concerns, Minister Gowda assured a thorough evaluation of the identified land’s suitability for allotment to retired soldiers. He acknowledged the challenges in providing sites in urban centers but reiterated the government’s commitment to verifying the appropriateness of the designated land. Another BJP MLA, S.R. Vishwanath, highlighted a specific case where 14 acres of land near Bengaluru had been earmarked for soldiers, urging prompt action to avoid tarnishing the government’s reputation.
